Rolla, MO Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Rolla, MO Summary

Cost of living in Rolla research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Rolla is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Missouri, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Rolla is 88, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Rolla is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Rolla ranks as the #54 cheapest in Missouri out of 142.

  • Rolla ranks as the #912 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Rolla is $232,415.

  • The median income in Rolla is $42,518.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
88
Rolla's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Rolla, MO?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rolla has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Missouri, Rolla has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Missouri's index of 88.

The standard of living in Rolla ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 142 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Rolla ranks as the #88 most expensive place in the Show Me State.

For more reading on life in Rolla, check out:

54 out of 142
In Missouri
912 out of 6,489
In America

Rolla Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rolla. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Rolla is 93.

  • The Groceries index in Rolla is 96.

  • The Health index in Rolla is 95.

  • The Housing index in Rolla is 75.

  • The Transportation index in Rolla is 88.

  • The Utilities index in Rolla is 95.

Living Expense Rolla Missouri National Average
Overall 88 88 100
Services 93 93 100
Groceries 96 96 100
Health 95 91 100
Housing 75 78 100
Transportation 88 90 100
Utilities 95 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, check out:
Rolla Cost of Living Vs. MO

Rolla, MO Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Missouri, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Rolla is $232,415.

  • The Median Rent in Rolla is $790.

  • The Median Income in Rolla is $42,518.

  • The Home Value To Income in Rolla is 5.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Rolla is 0.22x.

Statistic Rolla Missouri United States
Median Home Value $232,415 $257,929 $303,400
Median Rent $790 $996 $1,348
Median Income $42,518 $68,920 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.5x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.17x 0.21x
$232,415
Median Home Value
$790
Median Rent
$42,518
Median Income

Rolla, MO Costs By Category

Detailed Rolla Services Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Rolla Missouri
Shampoo $1.05 $1.28
Movie $11.64 $12.13
Bowling $16.11 $18
Haircut $24.14 $24.26
Beauty Salon $44.94 $45.56

Detailed Rolla Groceries Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Rolla Missouri
Ground Beef $6.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.4 $1.57
Milk $4.66 $4.67
Potatoes $4.7 $4.93
Pizza $10.74 $12.09
Beer $9.14 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.76 $3.7

Detailed Rolla Health Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Rolla Missouri
Optometrist $135.25 $125.68
Doctor $141.87 $135.78
Dentist $99.33 $113.29

Detailed Rolla Transportation Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Rolla Missouri
Gasoline $3.24 $3.46
Tire Balancing $47.66 $59.92

Detailed Rolla Utilities Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Rolla Missouri
All Electricity $168.45 $193.99
Phone $197.21 $192.25

Rolla SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
5
Diversity
7
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rolla

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rolla. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Fort Leonard Wood, MO has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Rolla.

  • Oak Grove, MO has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Rolla.

  • Sullivan, MO has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Rolla.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Rolla
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 15,317 101 1.1x
Oak Grove, MO 8,477 92 1.0x
Sullivan, MO 6,355 86 1.0x
St. Robert, MO 5,327 92 1.0x

Articles About Missouri

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